PERUVIAN PRESIDENT REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR COLOMBIA'S ACCESSION TO APEC

Bogotá, March 24- Visiting Peruvian president Alan Garcia on Wednesday reaffirmed his support for Colombia to join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), as Colombia had requested in 2009.

When arriving in Bogota, Garcia told the press that he also supports Colombia's free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, signed in 2006 but not have been approved yet by the U.S. Congress.

In 2009, Colombia expressed its will of joining the APEC in order to increase its ties at all levels with Asia.

Garcia also said that he visited Colombia to "ratify my personal will and wish for Peruvian people to achieve a deep integration to allow them the free transit of goods, capitals, people and services in Colombia”.

Garcia met with his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos and with members of the directive board of Colombian Congress.

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